New Year's Visits to Shrines and Temples
Let's start 2011 with trying the New Year's traditional events!
Hatsumoude Meiji Jingu Shrine
Hatsumoude - First Visits of the New Year
It is said that "New Year's Day is the key to the rest of the year." Every shrine and temple is crowded with people paying their first visits of the year to pray for their health and peace for the New Year. There are many shrines and temples where crowds line up to ring the huge temple bell. The bell is rung a total of 108 times starting a little before the midnight on New Year's Eve. Start your New Year with a fresh mind! Shop for some of the many good-luck goods, have a snack at a food stand on the shrine grounds while watching the many worshippers wander by in their gorgeous Japanese kimonos.
Places to Go for the First Visit of the Year in Tokyo
Meiji Jingu Shrine
Very near JR Harajuku Station and Meiji-jingu-mae Subway Station
5 minutes on foot from Sensoji Station on Tobu, Tsukuba Express, and subway lines
2 minutes on foot from Yushima Subway Station
10 minutes on foot from Ikegami Station on the Tokyu Line
Take the mountain trail from Takaosan-guchi Station on the Keio Line
Setsubun - The Day Before the Beginning of Spring
Setsubun, celebrated on February 3 every year, is the day before the beginning of spring and, in Japanese, literally translates as the transition between the seasons. People scatter roasted soybeans while shouting "Ogres out! Fortune in!" to get rid of misfortunes and evil spirits and then eat the same number of beans as their age. Various events are held at shrines and temples as well as events in which celebrities scatter beans. These are must-see events!
Places to See Setsubun Scattering of Beans in Tokyo
Setsubun Senso-ji Temple
5 minutes on foot from Sensoji station on Tobu, Tsukuba Express, and Subway lines
3 minutes on foot from Onarimon Subway Station or Shibakoen Station
3 minutes on foot from Monzen-nakacho Subway Station
5 minutes on foot from Fuchu Station on the Keio Line
5 minutes on foot from Ochanomizu Station on JR and subway lines
【Tips】
Touring Seven Deities
The seven deities are Ebisujin(success in business)、Daikokuten(good harvest)、Benzaiten(scholarship and wealth)、Bishamonten(victory)、Hoteison(marriage)、Fukurokuju(good luck)、andJuroujin(longevity)。It is said that a tour of the shrines and temples where these seven deities are enshrined at the beginning of the New Year will bring you happiness during the year. You can pay homage to the seven deities in Shinjuku, Nihonbashi, Fukagawa and many other places in Tokyo.